Triple Negative Breast Cancer: What treatments are you having?

Posted by thielmann1 @thielmann1, Dec 9, 2021

I have just been diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer after having Estrogen Positive Breast Cancer for 21 years. Is anyone familiar with this diagnosis and treatment that you are having for it?

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I was diagnosed w/tnbc stage 4 on 3/22/23. It was a recurrence. The tumor has spread to my lung and chest wall and bones . I was told my doctor that I cant have surgery to remove . I also had positive breast cancer stage 3 in 2014 and went remission at the year after I had surgery, chemo, and radiation. last May, I had chemo Enhertu for 6 month then the tumors started grow again. Now I am using chemo Trodelvy for near one months now. I will find out if it
is working on my next scan test.

REPLY
@louri

I was diagnosed with TNBC in November 2019, stage 1b, 1.7 cm and no lymph node involvement. I had a lumpectomy, chemo and then radiation. This was protocol the time. I was deemed in remission until last week. December 15th I had my yearly mammogram which required additional imaging. More scans, ultrasound and biopsy determined I have a local reoccurrence. I am now faced with the decision of having another lumpectomy with 3 weeks radiation, I did not have full amount of radiation the first time, or mastectomy. On one hand I think lumpectomy and save mastectomy option in case it returns again but on the other hand I don’t want multiple surgeries. If I did go mastectomy I would go flat. I am 63 and any advice, suggestions would be appreciated.

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I was diagnosed TN in September 2021, had a double mastectomy the following month, and have not had regrets about my decision. At some point I may try some kind of minimal padded-bra type thing but so far I have not done anything like that nor felt the need. It takes a little while to adjust to the change in how my clothes fit; I was not shapely before the surgery, so most of the adaptation has just been in my own mind. I was 68 at the time of diagnosis, and I'm 71 now. I wanted to avoid multiple surgeries, and I like being able to know that everything I see and feel is actually my own body; I feel more aware of my own condition and health with nothing external in the way. The good thing about TN is avoiding so many complicated decisions and side-effects of the treatments for the positive-types of breast cancer. The negative thing is that there's a big empty space where you are on your own to stay distracted and avoid thinking of that higher chance of a return cancer in those first several years.
Frankly, I didn't want to do multiple breast surgeries of ANY kind, either multiple lumpectomies, mastectomies, or the multi-step, drawn out reconstruction processes I heard about. If my life is to be shortened by this disease--and I hope it's not--I want to spend as little of it as possible anticipating or recuperating from surgery. I'm sure you will be fine, and will be comfortable with your decision once you have settled on your own priorities going forward!!

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@marywei

I was diagnosed w/tnbc stage 4 on 3/22/23. It was a recurrence. The tumor has spread to my lung and chest wall and bones . I was told my doctor that I cant have surgery to remove . I also had positive breast cancer stage 3 in 2014 and went remission at the year after I had surgery, chemo, and radiation. last May, I had chemo Enhertu for 6 month then the tumors started grow again. Now I am using chemo Trodelvy for near one months now. I will find out if it
is working on my next scan test.

Jump to this post

Welcome @marywei. You may also be interested in joining this discussion:
- Has anyone been given Trodelvy?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/has-anyone-been-given-trodelvy/
How are the side effects with Trodelvy for you?

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@lnlowe70

I was diagnosed TN in September 2021, had a double mastectomy the following month, and have not had regrets about my decision. At some point I may try some kind of minimal padded-bra type thing but so far I have not done anything like that nor felt the need. It takes a little while to adjust to the change in how my clothes fit; I was not shapely before the surgery, so most of the adaptation has just been in my own mind. I was 68 at the time of diagnosis, and I'm 71 now. I wanted to avoid multiple surgeries, and I like being able to know that everything I see and feel is actually my own body; I feel more aware of my own condition and health with nothing external in the way. The good thing about TN is avoiding so many complicated decisions and side-effects of the treatments for the positive-types of breast cancer. The negative thing is that there's a big empty space where you are on your own to stay distracted and avoid thinking of that higher chance of a return cancer in those first several years.
Frankly, I didn't want to do multiple breast surgeries of ANY kind, either multiple lumpectomies, mastectomies, or the multi-step, drawn out reconstruction processes I heard about. If my life is to be shortened by this disease--and I hope it's not--I want to spend as little of it as possible anticipating or recuperating from surgery. I'm sure you will be fine, and will be comfortable with your decision once you have settled on your own priorities going forward!!

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We are close in age and diagnosis and my thought process was very similar.
I just wanted to heal and get on with it. Wishing both of us good health and sunny days.

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